We dug deeper with eight actors about what went into their star turns this year, whether it was improvising a biopic or creating an extensive backstory. These men and women make it look easy, but as you’ll see after reading their stories, these performances were anything but.

If you’re feeling like you might need some encouragement, some laughs, some touching stories from someone who understands the actor’s plight, here are eight memoirs from 2014 written by some of our favorite actor-writers.

NewYork.com is giving away two tickets to the Broadway revival of “Side Show” and an inside look at the Broadway makeup experience courtesy of INGLOT Cosmetics, complete with a cocktail hour before the show!

In honor of the one day a year where everyone’s (openly) pretending to be someone else also known as what actors do all year round, also known as the best holiday of the year, here are six casting notices with a side of scary. Happy Halloween!